Friday, October 5, 2012

Poem of the Week--Preparing for My Absence

This is based on a line in an email from a friend. She wrote, "I am preparing for my absence next week." I thought that an evocative phrase and the result was this poem.

Preparing for My Absence
Preparing for my absence
I realize I have never been away from myself
Unless you want to count sleep
Which really doesn't because, after all'I'm still there with myself.
So, I am preparing to be away from myself
I don't know for how long
And I'm not telling where I'm going
In case I should find out and
Tag along with myself.
I'll be out, not available, incommunicado,Hors de combat
And if anyone needs me
Including me
Well,
I'm not here
And I'm not there, either.

2 comments:

OMG Dan, I think this is one of the best poems I have read by you! I hear the ironic tones of Emily Dickinson's "I'm nobody. Who are you?" as well as the profound paradoxes that make for marvelous metaphor. (So says your reader, a lover of alliteration.)

About Me

I taught high school English for 32 years, all at Robinson High School in Fairfax, VA. My students called me "Mr. V," and I was fortunate to have some terrific young people in my classes. I have made contact with some of them, particularly on Facebook, and enjoy seeing what they're up to.

My other nickname, given to me by our then assistant pastor Jim Vaught, is Lieutenant Dan, after the Gary Sinise character in Forrest Gump, one of my favorite movies. I never got anywhere near military service, so the name is somewhat ironic. I greatly admire our troops and respect their sacrifices.